Batangas, Cavite voter registration postponed

MANILA, Philippines — Voter registration in Batangas and Cavite set on Jan. 20 will be suspended due to Taal Volcano’s continuing unrest.

Commission on Elections spokesman James Jimenez said registration of voters in Makilala, North Cotabato was also suspended amid the devastation caused by powerful earthquakes in the last quarter of 2019. 

“Recent events have forced us to suspend the resumption of voter registration in 25 places in Calabarzon and in North Cotabato, where facilities have been damaged or destroyed because of the earthquake... We cannot reasonably provide registration services at this time,”  Jimenez said.

He said the suspension of voter registration in Batangas and Cavite covers the areas within the volcano’s 14-kilometer danger zone.

These are in Agoncillo, Alitagtag, Balete, Laurel, Lemery, Mataasnakahoy, San Nicolas, Sta. Teresita, Taal and Talisay in Batangas and Tagaytay City in Cavite.

Voter registration in  Balayan, Calaca, Calatagan, Cuenca, Lian, Lipa, Mabini and San Luis in Batangas as well as Alfonso, Amadeo, Indang and Silang in Cavite, which were heavily affected by ashfalls would also be suspended.

Jimenez said the resumption of voter registration, would depend on when affected areas could recover and return to normalcy. 

“We expect that recovery will proceed faster in some places,” he  said.